This week, they announced the lineups for this spring's New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (better known as simply Jazzfest). For those who have never been, the name is deceiving, the music goes way deeper than just jazz, with lots of blues, rock, gospel, and more. My opinion, it's one of the best lineups in years, both overall and looking just at the blues artists.

Blues and R&B highlights on this year's list include Etta James, Johnny Winter, Roy Rogers, Tab Benoit, Irma Thomas, Sonny Landreth, Mem Shannon, John Mooney, Eddie Bo, Allen Toussaint, Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Lil' Buck Sinegal, Texas Johnny Brown, Guitar Slim, Jr, and more, all 1st weekend (Apr 24-26).

2nd weekend (Apr 30-May 3) includes Aretha Franklin, Dr. John, Buddy Guy, Allen Toussaint, John Mayall, Chris Thomas King, Solomon Burke, Tab Benoit & the Wetland Allstars, Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials, Marcia Ball, Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Cedric Burnside & Lightnin' Malcolm, Eric Lindell, Roddie Romero, Kenny Neal, Lil' Brian & the
Travelers, St. Louis Slim, Bryan Lee, J. Monque'D, Jumpin' Johnny Sansone, Little Freddie King, and more.

There are 6 stages and 4 tents, one of which (the Blues Tent) is devoted entirely to the blues. You could park yourself in there all weekend, and you'd be at one of the top 5 or 10 blues fests in the country. But you'd also be doing yourself a disservice, there's so much other good music at all the other stages too.

Full lineups at http://www.nojazzfest.com/music/index.php

Besides the fest itself, which runs during the day, every night you'll find dozens of clubs with top notch local regional and national bands playing.

Oh, and between weekends, check out the Ponderosa Stomp:
Wanda Jackson, Roddy Jackson, Alton Lott, Carl Mann, Johnny Powers, Jack Earls, Dale Hawkins, James Burton, Dan Penn And Bobby Emmons, Howard Tate, Otis Clay, The Hi Rhythm Section, The Remains, Question Mark And The Mysterians, The Legendary Stardust Cowboy, Bobby Patterson, Wiley And The Checkmates, The Bo-Keys, Lil Buck Senegal And The Top Cats Featuring Stanley "Buckwheat Zydeco" Dural, Dennis Coffey, Robert Parker, Jivin Gene, Ray Sharpe, Long John Hunter, Texas Johnny Brown, Little Joe Washington, James Blood Ulmer Trio, L.C. Ulmer, Little Willie Littlefield, Lil Greenwood, Jerry McCain, Kenny And The Kasuals, Classie Ballou, Deke Dickerson And The Eccofonics, Roy Loney And Cyril Jordan Of The Flamin Groovies Backed By The A-Bones, and Lazy Lester.
Info at http://www.ponderosastomp.com/

With the economy hurting, it's also one of the more affordable years to go in recent memory. The fest has hotel rates for decent places downtown in the $130-150/night range, and priceline and hotwire have been delivering four star hotels downtown and in the French Quarter for under $100/night.

Lots more Fest info, including travel tips and discount hotel info, is on my website at http://jazzfest.swagland.com/

It's my two favorite weekends of the year. If you've never been, think about checking it out
for 2009.